It's pretty common to come across a big budget movie, or perhaps even a small indie hit, which is based on the works of a celebrated author. Novel and comic book adaptations are incredibly popular in the industry and have always contributed to each year's film slate.
But every now and then, this gets switched up, and a novel is produced based on an original movie. With things working back to front, there's some truly fantastic work out there to explore, although not everyone is aware of these books. Whether it's iconic film characters who see their story continue on the page, or well-known movie universes that are expanded upon, these novels have a lot to offer fans of those original cinematic experiences.
Honorable Mention: Ghostbusters - The Original Movie Novelisations Omnibus
While not totally original, it's important to point out the work that has been done by Richard Mueller on the Ghostbusters series of novelisations. Usually taking a film from screen to page will result in some of that experience being lost in translation.
In this case, though, these iconic movies are taken one step further, with elements of story that were missed from the film being inserted into the book to offer some further exploration. Ghostbusters might have had animated shows and video game spin-offs, but this may be one of the best ways to experience the franchise.
James Cameron's Avatar: The Na'VI Quest
James Cameron is constantly looking for ways to expand upon his 2009 box office breaking hit, Avatar. The sequels are of course the main way that the famous director will be continuing his story, but Avatar has also explored some other avenues.
Asides from the ambitious but ill-received video game, Cameron commissioned the novel The Na'VI Quest by Benjamin Harper. Released around the same time as the film, this novel tie-in sought to explore some of Jake's personal fascination with Pandora and the emotional journey he went on as he became one with this alien society.
Pirates Of The Caribbean: Jack Sparrow
Captain Jack Sparrow has delighted audiences both young and old ever since his creation. The Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise might be taking a bit of a break right now, but there are a few other ways to enjoy this cinematic universe, which all originated from a Disney ride.
There are a number of Jack Sparrow novels for younger readers, each of which tracks his adventures at the start of his career. With a total of 13 books in the series, author Rob Kidd has created a brand new set of characters that have deep, personal relationships with Jack as he starts off on his perilous pirate journey.
Thanos: Titan Consumed
For fans of the Infinity War saga in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the common way to enjoy that narrative on the page is through the reading of Thanos comic books. Yet, there is another way to enjoy the MCU iteration of the character.
While technically not MCU canon, Titan Consumed is a tie-in to Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Written by Barry Lyga, this young adult fiction novel sees Thanos' early life explored, before he sets out on his deadly quest. The book aims to make sense of the mad titan at his core.
Indiana Jones And The Peril At Delphi
Archaeologist, professor, explorer, and father, Indiana Jones has had a variety of dangerous adventures, each of which has made him a better and more experienced man. It's common knowledge that there's plenty of other ways to see Indie's life unfold.
The TV show and the upcoming Bethesda video game are perfect examples of that. But, in 1991 Rob MacGregor started his own journey with The Peril Of Delphi. In the first of 6 books based on the Indiana Jones franchise, an earthquake in Delphi has put into motion a series of events that Indie finds himself in the center of.
Aliens: Earth Hive
Ridley Scott's world of Aliens may just be one of the largest science fiction franchises in history. The comics, spin-off movies, prequels, and TV shows have all spawned from this original creation; one which of course inspired a novel as well.
1992's Earth Hive is one of the many novels in the Alien expanded universe, written by Steve Parry. Interestingly enough, it's actually a well-received novel adaptation of a 1980s Dark Horse comic book run called Outbreak, which Mark Verheiden and Mark A. Nelson were well known for working on.
The T2 Trilogy
Terminator 2 is often argued to be the best film of the franchise. Intense action sequences, strong emotional arcs, and the use of state of the art technology all contributed to the success of this James Cameron picture.
The movie was released in 1991 but a decade later the first of a trilogy of spin-off novels were released. Author S. M. Stirling created Infiltrator, Rising Storm and Future War, which were the first official works outside of the movies to continue the franchise.
Willow: Shadow Moon
Willow is heading towards a live-action TV show on Disney+ which will pick up from where the adventure left off. That's not going to be the first time that someone explored this fantasy land further outside of the original movie though.
Shadow Moon was published in 1995, 7 years after the release of the film. Written by Chris Claremont and George Lucas, this was the first of a trilogy created by Lucasfilm which continued on the legacy of this classic tale. Shadow Dawn and Shadow Star were books 2 and 3 of the series.
Frozen 2: Forest Of Shadows
Frozen 2 is a more recent addition to the Disney archives, although it is no less popular than the original movie. The film is set years after Olaf first came into the world and Elsa unleashed her icy powers. There's a bit of a gap to bridge in-between Frozen and its sequel.
Forest Of Shadows successfully fills in this hole. The young adult novel written by Kamilla Benko features an original story that plays into the dynamic between the two siblings leading into Frozen 2. With Elsa excelling in her role as Queen, where does this really leave Anna and her relationship with her sister?
Star Wars: Last Shot
Solo: A Star Wars Story has become a bit of a cult hit amongst Star Wars fans. General audiences might not have flocked to the cinema upon its release, but the movie is enjoying a bit of a second life in large part thanks to Disney+.
Spin-offs like Lando aside, Last Shot was the tie-in novel to the movie. The 2018 novel by Daniel José Older is a canon piece of the Star Wars expanded universe and one that die-hard fans have come to appreciate for its subtle detailing of Han Solo's psyche at a younger age; jumping into moments of his life that the movie didn't have time to cover.